Water, Energy, & Environment Task Force

Join EBLC’s Water, Energy & Environment Task Force for a moderated panel discussion with industry leaders from Walsh and PCL, both major construction firms, on how water and wastewater infrastructure projects are planned, delivered, and evolving in today’s market.

For decades, most municipal projects have followed a traditional approach where design and construction are handled separately, known as "design-bid-build." More recently, many projects have begun using a “design-build” model, where one team is responsible for both designing and constructing a project. This approach can streamline timelines, improve collaboration, and provide clearer accountability.

For water and wastewater infrastructure in particular, design-build is gaining traction because it can help deliver projects faster, reduce disputes, improve cost certainty and control, and create more opportunities for innovation. Recent changes in California regulations have also made it easier for municipalities to use this method, shaping how major public infrastructure projects are planned, funded, and delivered. This discussion will explore what these shifts mean in practice and where the industry is headed next.

OUR SPEAKERS

Jonathan Keaney has over 25 years of design and construction experience in the municipal water and wastewater industry working as a design consultant for the first 18 years of his career before transitioning to the construction industry to lead and support alternative delivery projects. His career has involved work on some of the largest projects in the country and work throughout the United States where he gained a perspective on the different types of project delivery and local statutes. He has served as the Chair of the New England Water Environment Biosolids Management Committee and as the Co-Chair of the Water Collaborative Delivery Education Committee. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of California and a Certified Design Biuld Institute of America Professional.

Lucas Lowney is the Vice President and Business Group Leader for the Pacific North Water Group within Walsh’s Water Division. He provides leadership for more than 110 salaried managers and 200 skilled craft professionals delivering water and wastewater projects across Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, with approximately $1.2 billion in work currently underway. Lucas oversees the region’s operations and growth, supporting expert teams in preconstruction, estimating, safety, scheduling, quality, and project delivery. Under his leadership, the group executes work across all major delivery models, including progressive design-build, design-bid-build, and GCCM.

Nathan Trevor is a Vice President of Business Development and Preconstruction with 28 years of industry experience, 20+ years in the California infrastructure market, and two years with Garney, leading teams through design and preconstruction to deliver high-quality, cost-effective water/wastewater infrastructure projects. He provides constructability input, develops GMPs, shapes procurement strategies, and partners closely with owners, designers, and vendors. Nathan has delivered more than $1.3B in collaborative delivery work, supporting CMAR and progressive design-build programs that include treatment plants, pipelines, drainage, and conveyance improvements. He holds a BS in Geological Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.